3D-Ultrasonography for evaluation of facial muscles in patients with chronic facial palsy or defective healing: a pilot study.

Background: While standardized methods are established to examine the pathway from motorcortex to the peripheral nerve in patients with facial palsy, a reliable method to evaluate the facial muscles in patients with long-term palsy for therapy planning is lacking.

Methods: A 3D ultrasonographic (US) acquisition system driven by a motorized linear mover combined with conventional US probe was used to acquire 3D data sets of several facial muscles on both sides of the face in a healthy subject and seven patients with different types of unilateral degenerative facial nerve lesions.

Results: The US results were correlated to the duration of palsy and the electromyography results.

Reference values for dynamic facial muscle ultrasonography in adults.

Introduction: Ultrasonography can detect structural muscle changes caused by neuromuscular disease, but it has not yet been applied to facial nerve diseases. Quantitative analysis would be the preferred method to determine whether ultrasound findings are within normal limits, but there are no normative data for mimic muscles. The purpose of this study was to provide gender-specific normative ultrasonography data for muscle area, diameter, and contractility for mimic and masticatory muscles in adults.

Quantitative ultrasonography of facial muscles in patients with chronic facial palsy.

Introduction: In this study we introduce quantitative facial muscle ultrasound as a diagnostic tool for patients with chronic unilateral facial palsy.

Methods: Muscle area, thickness, and echo intensity of 6 facial muscles (frontalis, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, depressor anguli oris, depressor labii inferioris, and mentalis) and of 2 chewing muscles (temporalis and masseter, as controls) were measured in 20 patients with chronic facial palsy.

Results: Aside from 1, all facial muscles were significantly smaller on the paralyzed side.

Quantitative ultrasonography of facial muscles.

Introduction: There is no standardized method for examination of facial muscles with ultrasound. The purpose of this study was to identify those facial muscles accessible for reliable identification and to provide reference data.

Methods: In healthy subjects all facial muscles were screened for visibility, separation from adjacent muscles, and reliability of landmarks.

[The nurse-patient relationship results of an examination about relationships between patients and nurses in hospitals].

The nurse-patient relationship has received particular attention in the relevant literature. For patients in life threatening and existentially challenging situations, nursing activities often require a close intimacy. A good nurse-patient relationship is a precondition for effective nursing interventions, but by itself also contributes to the healing process.